ESO Announcementshttp://www.eso.org/public/announcements/enFri, 17 Jul 2015 14:00:00 +0200ALMA Greatly Improves Capacity to Search for Water in Universehttp://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15059/<p>After more than five years of development and construction, <a href="http://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/alma/">ALMA</a> successfully opened its eyes on another frequency range after obtaining the first fringes with a Band 5 receiver, specifically designed to detect water in the local Universe. Band 5 will also open up the possibility of studying complex molecules in star-forming regions and protoplanetary discs, and detecting molecules and atoms in galaxies in the early Universe, looking back about 13 billion years.</p>
<p>ALMA observes the Universe in radio waves: light that is invisible to the human eye. The weak electromagnetic glow from space is captured by the array of 66 antennas, each with diameters up to twelve metres. Their receivers transform this weak radiation into an electrical signal.</p>
<p>To scout a broad range of frequencies, each ALMA antenna is equipped with up to ten different receivers, each one specially designed to cover a specific range of wavelengths. The new Band 5 receiver is the eighth type to be integrated and covers a range of wavelengths from 1.4 to 1.8 millimetres (frequencies from 163 to 211 GHz), probing a part of the electromagnetic spectrum that has only been poorly explored before.</p>
<p>“<em>Band 5 will open up new possibilities to explore the Universe and bring new discoveries,</em>” explains ESO’s Gianni Marconi, who is responsible for the integration of Band 5. <em>“The frequency range of this receiver includes an emission line of water that ALMA will be able to study in nearby regions of star formation. The study of water is, of course, of intense interest because of its role in the origin of life.</em>”</p>
<p>With Band 5 ALMA will also be able to probe the emission from ionised carbon from objects seen soon after the Big Bang, opening up the possibility of probing the earliest epoch of galaxy formation. <em>“This band will also enable astronomers to study young galaxies in the early Universe about 500 million years after the Big Bang</em>,” added Gianni Marconi.</p>
<p>The Band 5 receivers were originally designed and prototyped by Onsala Space Observatory's Group for Advanced Receiver Development (GARD) at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, in collaboration with the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK, and ESO, under the European Commission supported Framework Programme FP6 (ALMA Enhancement). After having successfully tested the prototypes, the first production-type receivers were built and delivered to ALMA by a consortium of NOVA and GARD in the first half of 2015. Two receivers were used for the first light. The remainder of the 73 receivers ordered, including spares, will be delivered between now and 2017. <a href="#1">[1]</a></p>
<h3>Notes</h3>
<p><a name="1"></a>[1] ESO placed the European contract for the cryogenically cooled receivers with NOVA, the research school for astronomy in the Netherlands, in partnership with Onsala Space Observatory’s Advanced Receiver Development group. NRAO built the high-precision local oscillators that tune the receivers, so that the output from all antennas can be precisely combined to make high-resolution images.</p>
<h3>More Information</h3>
<p>The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), an international astronomy facility, is a partnership of ESO, the US National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS) of Japan in cooperation with the Republic of Chile. ALMA is funded by ESO on behalf of its Member States, by NSF in cooperation with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the National Science Council of Taiwan (NSC) and by NINS in cooperation with the Academia Sinica (AS) in Taiwan and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI).</p>
<p>ALMA construction and operations are led by ESO on behalf of its Member States; by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), managed by Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), on behalf of North America; and by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) on behalf of East Asia. The Joint ALMA Observatory (JAO) provides the unified leadership and management of the construction, commissioning and operation of ALMA.</p>Fri, 17 Jul 2015 14:00:00 +0200http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15059/Paranal Observatory First Choice to Host World’s Largest Array of Gamma-ray Telescopeshttp://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15058/<p>On 15 and 16 July 2015, the <a href="http://www.cta-observatory.org">Cherenkov Telescope Array</a> (CTA) Resource Board decided to enter into detailed contract negotiations for hosting the CTA’s southern hemisphere array within the grounds of the Paranal Observatory, one of ESO’s sites in Chile. Similar negotiations for a northern site on La Palma are also starting.</p>
<p>The CTA project is an initiative to build the next generation of ground-based instruments designed for the detection of very high energy gamma-rays. Gamma rays are emitted by the hottest and most powerful objects in the Universe — such as supermassive black holes, supernovae and possibly remnants of the Big Bang. The array will provide valuable deeper insights into the high-energy Universe.</p>
<p>Although gamma rays don’t make it to the Earth’s surface, the CTA’s mirrors and high-speed cameras will capture short-lived flashes of the characteristic eerie blue <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherenkov_radiation">Cherenkov radiation</a> that is produced when the gamma rays interact with the Earth’s atmosphere. Pinpointing the source of this radiation will allow each gamma ray to be traced back to its cosmic source.</p>
<p>The CTA Resource Board is composed of representatives of ministries and funding agencies from Austria, Brazil, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Namibia, the Netherlands, Japan, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. After months of negotiations and careful consideration of extensive studies of the environmental conditions, simulations of the science performance and assessments of construction and operation costs the Board has decided to start contract negotiations with ESO. The Namibian and Mexican sites will be kept as viable alternatives.</p>
<p>In order for the CTA to maximise its coverage of the night sky, the array will consist of about 100 telescopes on the Chile site in the southern hemisphere and about 20 telescopes at the northern site.</p>
<p>The Chile site for the CTA is less than ten kilometres southeast of the location of the Very Large Telescope, within the grounds of ESO's Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert. This is considered one of the driest and most isolated regions on Earth — an astronomical paradise. In addition to the ideal conditions for year-round observation, installing the CTA at the Paranal Observatory offers the CTA the opportunity to take advantage of the existing infrastructure (roads, accommodation, water, electricity, etc.) and access to established facilities and processes for the construction and operation of the telescope array.</p>
<p>Currently in its pre-construction phase, determination of the array sites is a critical factor in the CTA construction project.</p>
<h3>More Information</h3>
<p dir="ltr">The CTA aims to build the world’s largest and most sensitive high-energy gamma-ray telescope array. Over 1000 scientists and engineers from five continents, 31 countries (Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Namibia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Ukraine) and over 170 research institutes participate in the CTA project. The CTA will serve as an open facility to a wide astrophysics community and provide a deep insight into the non-thermal, high-energy Universe. The CTA will detect high-energy radiation with unprecedented accuracy and approximately ten times the sensitivity of current instruments, providing novel insights into some of the most extreme and violent events in the Universe.</p>
<p dir="ltr">ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world’s most productive ground-based astronomical observatory by far. It is supported by 16 countries: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, along with the host state of Chile. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world’s most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory and two survey telescopes. VISTA works in the infrared and is the world’s largest survey telescope and the VLT Survey Telescope is the largest telescope designed to exclusively survey the skies in visible light. ESO is a major partner in ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. And on Cerro Armazones, close to Paranal, ESO is building the 39-metre European Extremely Large Telescope, the E-ELT, which will become “the world’s biggest eye on the sky”.</p>Thu, 16 Jul 2015 17:00:00 +0200http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15058/Science in School: Issue 32 now availablehttp://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15057/<p>The latest issue of the free magazine Science in School is now available online and in printed form. This European journal for science teachers offers inspiring articles, fun games and hands-on activities for students in every issue. It aims to promote science teaching by encouraging communication between teachers, scientists and everyone else involved in European science education.</p>
<p>Some of the highlights of this issue include: infectious cancers, which are currently pushing one Tasmanian species to the brink of extinction; a look at what is happening when you dye your hair; and using mathematics to help tackle epidemics.</p>
<p>Teaching activities include: using magic sand to introduce mystery into the classroom and explain chemistry, and using simple liquids that mimic blood to demonstrate blood typing.</p>
<p>Science in School is published by <a href="http://www.eiroforum.org/">EIROforum</a>, a collaboration between eight European intergovernmental scientific research organisations, of which ESO is a member. The journal addresses science teaching both across Europe and across disciplines: highlighting the best in teaching and cutting-edge research.</p>
<p>Numerous articles as well as their translated versions in many European languages can be found online. If you would like to volunteer to translate Science in School articles into your own language, for publication online, please see the <a href="http://www.scienceinschool.org/submissions/translators">guidelines on the Science in School website</a>.</p>Fri, 10 Jul 2015 17:00:00 +0200http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15057/First Instruments for E-ELT Approvedhttp://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15056/<p>Following the recommendations of the ESO Finance Committee (<a href="http://www.eso.org/public/about-eso/committees/fc/fc2015.html">FC</a>) and Scientific Technical Committee (<a href="http://www.eso.org/public/about-eso/committees/stc/stc2015">STC</a>), <a href="http://www.eso.org/public/about-eso/committees/cou/cou2015.html">Council</a> authorised the Director General to sign the contracts for the first set of instruments for the E-ELT. These huge and innovative tools to analyse the light collected by the giant telescope will allow the E-ELT to address a wide range of astronomical questions soon after its completion. The choices are based on extensive input from the astronomical communities in ESO’s Member States.</p>
<p>This instrumentation package comprises a near-infrared imager with spectroscopic capability (<a href="http://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/e-elt/e-elt-instr/micado/">MICADO</a>), a multi-conjugate adaptive optics unit (<a href="http://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/e-elt/e-elt-instr/maory/">MAORY</a>), which will feed MICADO (and possibly additional future instruments); an integral field spectrograph (<a href="http://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/e-elt/e-elt-instr/harmoni/">HARMONI</a>), along with development of its laser tomography adaptive optics system to preliminary design review level; and a mid-infrared imager and spectrometer (<a href="http://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/e-elt/e-elt-instr/metis/">METIS</a>).</p>
<p>MICADO, coupled with MAORY, will allow the full resolution of the telescope to be brought to bear on many current areas of research. A key driver for the instrument design is astrometric accuracy. Such detailed measurements of the positions of objects will allow, amongst other projects, the orbits of stars around the black hole at the centre of our galaxy to be tracked with unprecedented precision.</p>
<p>HARMONI will make 3D observations of astronomical objects on scales ranging from planetary orbits to entire galaxies. One example of the potential of such an instrument is that HARMONI will enable us to understand the formation and evolution of galaxies from the earliest times in the history of the Universe right up until the present day.</p>
<p>The METIS instrument, working at longer wavelengths, will also have a wide range of applications across all branches of astronomy. It will provide an invaluable link for astronomers wishing to follow up discoveries made with the <a href="http://sci.esa.int/jwst/">James Webb Space Telescope</a> by providing far greater spatial detail and dynamical information than can be achieved from space.</p>
<p>Selection of the science capabilities of the E-ELT was a communal effort based on dedicated meetings and workshops and the work of the science teams of the instrument Phase A studies carried out during the E-ELT Phase B design. The Science Working Group (<a href="http://www.eso.org/sci/facilities/eelt/science/swg/">SWG</a>) of the E-ELT Science and Engineering subcommittee (<a href="https://www.eso.org/public/about-eso/committees/stc-ese.html">ESE</a>) of the STC contributed to the final science case, developing the science priorities and the sequence of instruments. These were encapsulated in an instrumentation roadmap that was part of the E-ELT construction proposal. The requirements were refined and finalised by the Project Science Team after the completion of Phase B.</p>
<p>The construction of these instruments is included within the Phase 1 E-ELT Programme <a href="http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1440/">approved by Council in December 2014</a>.</p>Fri, 10 Jul 2015 16:00:00 +0200http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15056/ESO Signs Contract for Deformable Shell Mirrors for E-ELThttp://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15055/<p dir="ltr">ESO has signed a contract with the French optics company <a href="http://www.safran-group.com/content/reosc">Reosc</a>, a subsidiary of Sagem, Safran group, to manufacture the deformable shell mirrors that will comprise the fourth mirror (M4) of the <a href="http://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/e-elt/">European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT)</a> These mirrors will be mounted and supported in the adaptive mirror unit (<a href="http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15045/">ann15045</a>) to form the largest ever adaptive mirror unit ever made.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The contract was signed by representatives of Reosc and ESO at a ceremony at ESO Headquarters on 8 July 2015.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The M4 deformable mirror system forms a key part of the E-ELT. Measuring 2.4 metres in diameter, it will be made up of six thin segment mirrors, each only 1.95 millimetres thick and made of ceramic glass. Each shell is one of six 60-degree petal sections that form the circular segmented M4 mirror.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.schott.com/uk/english/index.html">SCHOTT</a> will deliver pieces of ceramic to Reosc, then Reosc will manufacture and polish the thin shells. The <a href="http://www.adoptica.it/">AdOptica</a> consortium in Italy — <a href="http://www.ads-int.com/">ADS International</a> and <a href="http://www.microgate.it/">Microgate</a>, partnered with INAF (<a href="http://www.inaf.it/en">Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica</a>) as subcontractors — will produce the shell assemblies and build the entire support unit (<a href="http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15045/">ann15045</a>).</p>
<p dir="ltr">The prototyping of this challenging mirror has been ongoing for several years. Reosc produced the first flat thin-shell mirror for the E-ELT programme already in 2008. This 1.95-millimetre thick, 1-metre diameter mirror was then cut into two petals and used for the demonstration prototype <a href="#1">[1]</a>. In 2010, Reosc successfully manufactured a 2.7-metre thin mirror made of borofloat glass and cut it into segments.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In 2011, Reosc then delivered the first thin shell for the deformable mirror of the <a href="http://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/vlt/">Very Large Telescope (VLT)</a>. This aspheric mirror (<a href="http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann12015/">ann12015</a>) was coated and integrated in the support unit and has been under testing at ESO since the end of 2012 (<a href="http://www.eso.org/public/images/potw1307a/">potw1307a</a>). A second thin-shell mirror for the VLT deformable secondary mirror (DSM) was delivered at the end of 2013 (<a href="http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann14010/">ann14010</a>), and will be tested at ESO in early 2016.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Reosc will manufacture twelve mirror shells for the E-ELT M4, planning to produce the first six mirrors within five years and to complete the manufacturing of the twelve mirrors by 2023.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Notes</h3>
<p dir="ltr"><a name="1"></a>[1] The petal installed on the demonstration prototype is shown in this <a href="http://www.eso.org/public/images/ann12032b/">picture</a>.</p>Wed, 08 Jul 2015 15:00:00 +0200http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15055/Catch a Star 2015 Contest Winners Announcedhttp://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15054/<p>The winners of this year Catch a Star Contest have been announced. ESO is providing a mounted image of fascinating astronomical objects for each of the top five places. The top three places also have the chance to carry out remote observations at the <a href="http://nao-rozhen.org/">Rozhen National Astronomical Observatory</a> in Bulgaria.</p>
<p>The top prize was awarded to three projects: Experimental determination of the obliquity of the ecliptic, by Clara Preixens Vidal, David Beberide Sabarich, and Anna Alonso Giro; Comparative study of two solar eclipses in the 21st century, by Nuria Babot, Guillem Serrado, and Alba Ganau; and Experimental determination of the Moon’s density, by Julia Dominguez, Andrea Cabero, and Albert Gomez. All three groups were from Spain and had Anicet Cosialls Manonelles as their teacher.</p>
<p>A complete list of the winners can be found on the <a href="http://www.eaae-astronomy.org/catchastar/winners-menu">Catch a Star website</a>.</p>
<p>School students from around the world were invited to take part in the European astronomy contest Catch a Star. To participate students had to submit a written report on an astronomical topic of their choice — for example an astronomical object, phenomenon, observation, scientific problem or theory.</p>
<p>Catch a Star is a contest organised as a collaboration between the <a href="http://www.eaae-astronomy.org/">European Association for Astronomy Education</a> (EAAE) and ESO that has been running since 2002. Its goal is to stimulate the creativity and independent work of students, to strengthen and expand their astronomical knowledge and skills.</p>
<p>Find out more about the competition on the <a href="http://www.eaae-astronomy.org/catchastar/">Catch a Star</a> website.</p>Tue, 07 Jul 2015 16:00:00 +0200http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15054/The Messenger No. 160 Now Availablehttp://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15053/<p>The latest edition of ESO's quarterly journal, <em>The Messenger</em>, is now available online. Find out the latest news from ESO on topics ranging from new instruments to the latest science discoveries.</p>
<p>Highlights of this edition include:</p>
<ul>
<li>ALMA's Extension to 15-kilometre Baselines: Submillimetre Science down to 20-Milliarcsecond Resolution</li>
<li>Probing the Effects of Stellar Evolution: The Dust and Gas in Detached Shells around AGB Stars</li>
<li>The SINFONI Nearby Elliptical Lens Locator Survey (SNELLS)</li>
<li>Report on the ESO Workshop “Baryons at Low Densities: The Stellar Halos around Galaxies”</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.eso.org/public/products/messengers/messenger_0160/">Download <em>The Messenger</em></a> in PDF format or visit <a href="http://www.eso.org/sci/publications/messenger/"><em>The Messenger</em> website</a> to subscribe and receive a free printed copy.</p>Tue, 07 Jul 2015 15:00:00 +0200http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15053/ALMA Material for Teachershttp://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15052/<p>New educational material about radio astronomy, ALMA at School, co-authored by the Joint ALMA Observatory and ESO, is now available for free in the <a href="http://www.eso.org/public/products/education/">educational material section</a> of ESO’s website in both English and Spanish.</p>
<p>The manual contains an overview of the history of radio astronomy leading up to ALMA, and sections on the physics of radio astronomy and how radio astronomy is used to explore our cosmic origins.</p>
<p>Diagrams, photographs and illustrations are featured throughout the manual, clarifying and visualising key elements of the story behind radio astronomy, as well as its physics and applications.</p>
<p>At the back of the book are a set of ten classroom activities to actively engage students, and a series of slides that can be used in the classroom to illustrate key concepts.</p>Mon, 06 Jul 2015 16:00:00 +0200http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15052/Chilean Industry Day in Antofagastahttp://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15051/<p dir="ltr">On 15 July 2015, the Chilean Government and ESO will host an industry event for Chilean businesses in Antofagasta, Chile. At the meeting, taking place in Hotel Antofagasta, representatives of interested Chilean companies and institutions will be offered information about ESO, given an introduction to the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) and presented with the opportunities that are available to participate in its industrial activities.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Antofagasta Region of northern Chile is now renowned for its astronomical significance. It is home to some of the world’s most important telescopes, including the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the Very Large Telescope (VLT).</p>
<p dir="ltr">During the course of the industry day, ALMA engineer Nick Whyborn will give a talk on the technical needs of ALMA and Maxime Boccas will address those at the Paranal site. Interested companies will have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the technological requirements of ESO, as well as its procurement procedures. There will also be time reserved for one-on-one meetings between the respective representatives.</p>Fri, 03 Jul 2015 15:00:00 +0200http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15051/CAPjournal Issue 17 Now Availablehttp://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15050/<p>The 17th issue of the Communicating Astronomy with the Public journal is out now!</p>
<p>In this issue you will find articles discussing outreach activities for the Google Lunar XPRIZE race to the Moon; the issues involved in communicating astronomy directly to a mass audience through television; the role of space art in astronomy outreach; and how using simple optical instruments to reproduce historical astronomical observations can help amateur astronomers and the wider public engage with astronomy in a direct, collaborative way.</p>
<p>There is all this, and more, in this free, peer-reviewed journal for astronomy communicators — now available for download.</p>Tue, 30 Jun 2015 16:00:00 +0200http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15050/